Dual-lumen catheter-connecting system

Abstract

A dual-lumen catheter assembly comprising a dual-lumen catheter, a Y connector having one end fastened to the proximal end of the catheter, and a pair of extension tubes each having one end fastened to the opposite end of the connector from the catheter, each of the extension tubes being bent back toward the distal end of the catheter, extending along opposite sides of the connector.

I claim: 
     
       1. A dual-lumen catheter assembly comprising: a dual-lumen catheter having a distal end and a proximal end,   flow diversion means having one end fastened to the proximal end of said catheter, and   a pair of flexible extension tubes each having one end fastened to the opposite end of said flow diversion means from said catheter, each of said extension tubes being bent back toward the distal end of said catheter to form a bend having a predetermined shape, each bend being adapted to flex and deform from said predetermined shape in response to an external force and being adapted to return to said predetermined shape in response to removal of said external force.   
     
     
       2. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein said extension tubes, including the bends therein, are flexible. 
     
     
       3. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the bent extension tubes and the flow diversion means lie in substantially the same plane. 
     
     
       4. The catheter assembly of claim 1 which includes a pair of luer fittings fastened to the proximal ends of said extension tubes, and a closure cap on each of said luer fittings. 
     
     
       5. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein said connector includes a pair of ferrules on said opposite end thereof, and said extension tubes are fastened to said ferrules. 
     
     
       6. The catheter assembly of claim 1 which includes flow control means on each of said extension tubes, on the proximal sides of said bends in said tubes. 
     
     
       7. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein said flow diversion means includes a pair of internal passageways communicating with the dual lumens of said catheter at said one end of said flow diversion means and with said extension tubes at said opposite end of said flow diversion means. 
     
     
       8. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the bends in said extension tubes are generally U-shaped. 
     
     
       9. The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein said dual-lumen catheter comprises a cylindrical body portion having an internal longitudinal septum forming a pair of elongated lumens having D-shaped cross sections, the distal end of said body portion terminating in a smooth conical tapered tip, one of said lumens extending longitudinally through said tip, and the other lumen terminating at an opening formed in the side wall of said catheter proximally of the distal end of said tip. 
     
     
       10. A blood treatment system comprising a dual-lumen catheter having a distal end and a proximal end,   flow diversion means having one end fastened to the proximal end of said catheter,   a pair of flexible extension tubes each having one end fastened to the opposite end of said flow diversion means from said catheter, each of said extension tubes being bent back toward the distal end of said catheter to form a bend having a predetermined shape, each bend being adapted to flex and deform from said predetermined shape in response to an external force and being adapted to return to said predetermined shape in response to removal of said external force,   a blood treatment unit for receiving blood withdrawn from a patient through one of the lumens of said catheter, purifying the withdrawn blood, and returning the purified blood to the patient through the other lumen of said catheter,   a pair of flexible tubes connecting said extension tubes to said blood treatment unit,   flow control means for controlling the flow of blood between said catheter and said blood treatment unit, and   coupling means for coupling the proximal ends of said extension tubes to said flexible tubes.   
     
     
       11. The system of claim 10 wherein said catheter is inserted into a patient and which includes a bandage fastening said flow diversion means to the skin of the patient, with the portions of said extension tubes on the proximal sides of said bends positioned on top of said bandage. 
     
     
       12. The system of claim 11 which includes means fastening to the top of said bandage the portions of said extension tubes on the proximal sides of said bends. 
     
     
       13. The system of claim 11 which includes flow control means and luer fittings installed, said extension tubes on the proximal sides of said bends. 
     
     
       14. The system of claim 10 wherein said extension tubes, including said bends, are flexible. 
     
     
       15. The system of claim 11 wherein the bent extension tubes and said flow diversion means lie in substantially the same plane. 
     
     
       16. The system of claim 10 which includes a pair of luer fittings fastened to the proximal ends of said extension tubes, and a closure cap on each of said luer fittings. 
     
     
       17. The system of claim 10 wherein said connector includes a pair of ferrules on said opposite end thereof, and said extension tubes are fastened to said ferrules. 
     
     
       18. The system of claim 10 which includes flow control means on each of said extension tubes, on the proximal sides of said bends in said tubes. 
     
     
       19. The system of claim 10 wherein said flow diversion means forms a pair of internal passageways coimmunicating with the dual lumens of said catheter at said one end of the connector and with said extension tubes at said opposite end of the connector. 
     
     
       20. The system of claim 10 wherein the bends in said extension tubes are generally U-shaped. 
     
     
       21. A method of preparing a patient for extracorporeal blood treatment comprising the steps of inserting into a vein selected from the group consisting of the jugular, subclavian and femoral veins of the patient, the distal end portion of a dual-lumen catheter assembly having flow diversion means having one end fastened to the proximal end of said catheter,   a pair of flexible extension tubes each having one end fastened to the opposite end of said flow diversion means from said catheter, each of said extension tubes being bent back toward the distal end of said catheter and extending alongside said flow diversion means to form a bend having a predetermined shape, each bend being adapted to flex and deform from said predetermined shape in response to an external force and being adapted to return to said predetermined shape in response to removal of said external force, flow control means for controlling the flow of blood between said dual-lumen catheter and an extracorporeal blood treatment unit, and   coupling means for coupling said extension tubes to said blood treatment unit, and   taping said flow diversion means and extension tubes to the skin of the patient.     
     
     
       22. The method of claim 21 wherein said flow diversion means and extension tubes are attached to the skin of the patient by a bandage, and the portions of said extension tubes on the proximal sides of said bends are positioned on top of said bandage. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 22 which includes the step of fastening to the top of said bandage the portions of said extension tubes on proximal sides of said bends. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 22 wherein said extension tubes have flow control means and luer fittings installed on the proximal sides of said bends. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim 21 wherein said extension tubes, including said bends, are flexible. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 21 wherein the bent extension tubes and said flow diversion means lie in substantially the same plane. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim 21 wherein said extension tubes have a pair of luer fittings fastened to the proximal ends thereof, and a closure cap on each of said luer fittings. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 21 wherein said connector includes a pair of ferrules on said opposite end thereof, and said extension tubes are fastened to said ferrules. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 21 wherein said extension tubes have flow control means installed on the proximal sides of said bends in said tubes. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim 21 wherein said flow diversion means forms a pair of internal passageways communicating with the dual lumens of said catheter at said one end of said flow diversion means and with said extension tubes at said opposite end of said flow diversion means. 
     
     
       31. The method of claim 21 wherein the bends in said extension tubes are generally U-shaped. 
     
     
       32. The method of claim 26 wherein the bent extension tubes are attached to the skin of the patient by a first tape extending generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the catheter and extending beyond the bends in the extension tubes at one end and beyond the catheter insertion point at the other end. 
     
     
       33. The method of claim 32 which includes a second tape covering the bent extension tube and said first tape and attached to the skin of the patient at opposite ends of the second tape. 
     
     
       34. A dual-lumen catheter assembly comprising a dual-lumen catheter, and   connecting means attached to the proximal end of said catheter and forming a pair of internal passageways which communicate at one end thereof with the dual lumens in said catheter, said passageways curving back toward the distal end of said catheter so that forces exerted on said connecting means at the other ends of said passageways will tend to move said catheter in a direction opposite that of said exerted forces.   
     
     
       35. The catheter assembly of claim 34 wherein said connecting means comprises a connector fastened to the proximal end of said catheter, and a pair of extension tubes fastened to said connector, said connector forming a pair of internal passageways connecting each of the catheter lumens to one of said extension tubes, and said extension tubes forming said curved passageways. 
     
     
       36. The catheter assembly of claim 34 wherein each of said curved passageways is U-shaped. 
     
     
       37. The catheter assembly of claim 34 wherein said dual-lumen catheter comprises a cylindrical body portion having an internal longitudinal septum forming a pair of elongated lumens having D-shaped cross sections, the distal end of said body portion terminating in a smooth conical tapered tip, one of said lumens extending longitudinally through said tip, and the other lumen terminating at an opening formed in the side wall of said catheter proximally of the distal end of said tip. 
     
     
       38. A blood treatment system comprising a dual-lumen catheter,   connecting means attached to the proximal end of said catheter and forming a pair of internal passageways which communicate at one end thereof with the dual lumens in said catheter, said passageways curving back toward the distal end of said catheter so that forces exerted on said connecting means at the other ends of said passageways will tend to move said catheter in a direction opposite that of said exerted forces,   a blood treatment unit for receiving blood withdrawn from a patient through one of the lumens of said catheter, purifying the withdrawn blood, and returning the purified blood to the patient through the other lumen of said catheter, and   a pair of flexible tubes connecting said extension tubes to said blood treatment unit.   
     
     
       39. The system of claim 38 wherein said connecting means comprises a connector fastened to the proximal end of said catheter, and a pair of extension tubes fastened to said connector, said connector forming a pair of internal passageways connecting each of the catheter lumens to one of said extension tubes, and said extension tubes forming said curved passageways. 
     
     
       40. The system of claim 38 wherein each of said curved passageways is U-shaped. 
     
     
       41. The system of claim 38 wherein said dual-lumen catheter comprises a cylindrical body portion having an internal longitudinal septum forming a pair of elongated lumens having D-shaped cross sections, the distal end of said body portion terminating in a smooth conical tapered tip, one of said lumens extending longitudinally through said tip, and the other lumen terminating at an opening formed in the side wall of said catheter proximally of the distal end of said tip. 
     
     
       42. A method of preparing a patient for extracorporeal blood treatment comprising the steps of inserting into a vein selected from the group consisting of the jugular, subclavian and femoral veins of the patient, the distal end portion of a dual-lumen catheter having connecting means attached to the proximal end of said catheter and forming a pair of internal passageways which communicate at one end thereof with the dual lumens in said catheter, said passageways curving back toward the distal end of said catheter so that forces exerted on said connecting means at the other ends of said passageways will tend to move said catheter in a direction opposite that of said exerted forces, and   taping said connector and extension tubes to the skin of the patient.   
     
     
       43. The method of claim 42 wherein said connector and extension tubes are attached to the skin of the patient by a bandage, and the portions of said extension tubes on the proximal sides of said bends are positioned on top of said bandage. 
     
     
       44. The method of claim 43 which includes the step of fastening to the top of said bandage the portions of said extension tubes on the proximal sides of said bends. 
     
     
       45. The method of claim 43 wherein said extension tubes have flow control means and luer fittings installed on the proximal sides of said bends. 
     
     
       46. The method of claim 42 wherein the bends in said extension tubes are permanently set in said tubes. 
     
     
       47. The method of claim 47 wherein said extension tubes, including said bends, are flexible. 
     
     
       48. The method of claim 42 wherein the bent extension tubes and the connector lie in substantially the same plane. 
     
     
       49. The method of claim 42 wherein said extension tubes have a pair of luer fittings fastened to the proximal ends thereof, and a closure cap on each of said luer fittings. 
     
     
       50. The method of claim 42 wherein said connector includes a pair of ferrules on said opposite end thereof, and said extension tubes are fastened to said ferrules. 
     
     
       51. The method of claim 42 wherein said extension tubes have flow control means installed on the proximal sides of said bends in said tubes. 
     
     
       52. The method of claim 42 wherein said Y-shaped connector forms a pair of internal passageways communicating with the dual lumens of said catheter at said one end of the connector and with said extension tubes at said opposite end of the connector. 
     
     
       53. The method of claim 42 wherein the bends in said extension tubes are generally U-shaped.